《The Gift》Don't Fly Away
Advertisement
Friday finally came and Raito had planned out his whole day before he had to leave for the play. He went downstairs to eat breakfast his mom had made.
“Raito, your dad finally got back to me,” Raito’s mom said in her best English.
Excitedly Raito shouted out, “And what did he say!?”
“He will agree to your plan under two conditions. One, you must get a job while you’re not in college. Two, if you haven’t earned money from your comic in six months. You had to apply for college.”
“Okay, that sounds fair. I can do that.”
Raito’s fan comic had actually started to pick up some steam. Fans from the I Am Hero loved the idea of expanding the universe with lesser-known heroes from the school. After he had finished his breakfast, he ran back to his room so he could get back to work. He didn’t want to just write fanfiction as a way to get noticed and had been working on a new story. Of course, the story had to be about superheroes but he decided to give it something to stand out. The main character was from a comic book that got transported into the real world.
He began drawing all the scenes for the first chapter. Using ideas from comics he had read and thinking about all the different art styled that he loved. It was a good way for him to create his own style to draw in an audience.
The day went by fast and knew he needed to get ready for the play. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to dress casual or fancy for it. He just stared at the two shirts that were in his hands; moving his head back and forth from one shirt to the other. “Dress shirt or t-shirt? Dress shirt or t-shirt? On one hand. I don’t have a date so t-shirt. But on the other hand. I’m going to be meeting someone that was in the play, so dress shirt. Ugh! Why is this so hard!?”
He ended up picking a button-up shirt instead.
By the time Raito got to where the play was showing, he was already ten minutes late. “Stupid traffic and no parking spaces,” he mumbled angrily to himself. He eventually found his seat and sat down to enjoy the rest of the play. During most of the play, Raito would try and guess who the Gift was. Paying attention to each detail, trying to spot a character whose physical appearance might have been slightly altered. He hardly paid attention to the story at all until he heard this.
“I challenge you to a duel to the death. To restore my family's honor!”
“Finally, some action,” Raito whispered.
The rest of the play went by smoothly and Raito actually enjoyed himself once he started to pay attention. He almost left the theater before remembering the whole reason why he even came to the play. He made his way to the backstage, showing his ticket to the security guard, and looked for the dressing room. He eventually found the women’s dressing room and got ready to knock on the door before remembering something important, “Flight never told me her real name!”
Advertisement
“How can I ask for someone when the only name I know her by is her Gift name?” He thought to himself.
“Excuse me, are you lost? No one should be back here.” A soft voice said.
Raito turned around to see a woman with black hair, green eyes, long legs, and a curvy figure facing him.
“I ummm. Had this VIP ticket,” he said holding out the ticket. “I was supposed to meet someone, but my friend forgot to tell me her name.”
She took the ticket and began to examine it before having a depressed look on her face. “This ticket wasn’t meant for you. I hadn’t seen him in a year and was hoping he was watching me out there.”
“Flight didn’t tell you I was coming?”
The woman shook her head no.
“I can go if you want me too. I didn’t mean to make you sad.” Raito replied, feeling slight anger towards Flight.
“You’re here now and I guess there must be a reason why he wanted us to meet. Follow me, I have my own special dressing room.” She said.
Raito followed the woman to her own dressing room. It wasn’t what he was expecting. It was nearly empty besides one pair of clothes on a rack and a table with a large mirror on.
“Are you sure this is a dressing room?” He asked.
“I don’t need much thanks to my Gift. Since I haven’t heard about you, just call me Morph for now.” She said as she snapped her fingers. The clothes she was wearing changed into an oversize t-shirt with baggy pants.
Raito scratched his head and couldn’t help but look down at the floor. “Thanks a lot Flight. This isn’t awkward at all.”
“Did you say something? You’re mumbling.”
He cleared his throat and started to repeat what he knew about her and Flight’s reasoning for them to meet.
“The hardest part of my past is that I don’t even know what I look like. I was constantly changing my appearance and never once had the opportunity to just change back to my regular self.”
“That must be difficult to deal with.”
“It was and still is. It’s been really difficult for me to trust men and understand the difference between a touch that is malice and one that is kind. Flight has been the only person I could really trust outside of the friends I made here. Flight and these team of actors made it easy for me to learn English and do what I’ve always dreamt of doing.” She moved over closer to Raito and rested her hand onto his face, caressing it. “In order to move on you have to surround yourself with people you can trust. And acknowledge that you might never get over it. Just think of your life in the moment and all the good that has come from it. It’s okay to have scars but it’s not okay to look at them. Thinking that they define you. We are not special. Our life is not special.”
Advertisement
“That took a dark turn,” he said while feeling his face get warm from Morphs touch.
“Let me finish okay? We are not special, our life is not special, there is no destiny. So go out there and make yourself someone that IS special. Give your life meaning and create your own destiny. Not being special is a gift of its own because that means you don’t have to follow some sort of guideline for your life. That is how I overcame my scars.”
Raito had never been this close to a woman before. He liked the sound of Morph’s voice and the caring way she was treating him. He wasn’t being judged or asked to not be a superhero. Just offering advice to move on from his pain. If he had any…
“I like your advice. I’m going to make sure I do just that.” His words were hollow though. Ever since the day after the fight with Blight. He hadn’t experienced any form of PTSD. Not even a little from bright flashes of light. It didn’t make sense to him, he nearly died! But he didn’t want to ruin the moment.
“You think maybe…you can. I don’t know. Help me make a new costume?” He asked.
Morph pulled her hand back and laugh. He thought the laugh was cute too. “You have a one-track mind don’t you. I think I have the time to spare. Sure!”
The two ended up spending a few hours in the dressing room making Raito’s new costume. There wasn’t a moment of silence. They talked about their dreams, hopes, and favorite type of sandwiches. It was like he was talking to Flight. He was comfortable talking about himself and learning more about Morph. Within the few hours they spent together, they got closer and closer. They both were really happy to have met each other.
By the time they were done it was nearly one in the morning. He walked her to her car and she left. But not before she handed Raito her number. With the sound of her car far away, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“I see you two got along quite well.”
Raito turned around to see Flight. “It’s not fair sneaking up on me like that. I can’t tell the difference if I’m hearing the wind or you!”
Laughing, he playfully pushed Raito, “what were you guys doing that took so long. I wanted to see how it all went and have been waiting out here for like 3 hours.”
“Sounds like you need to get a hobby,” Raito gestured Flight to follow him, “I parked on the other side.”
As the two made their way around to the other side, Raito continued to talk, “we were getting to know each other. She also helped me make a new costume.” Raito lifted up a bag containing his new outfit. “She’s really kind and sweet. We plan on meeting up again soon.” Raito couldn’t help but blush at the thought.
“Sounds like you have a crush.” Flight teased.
“Naaaa, besides, you two love each other. I don’t want to make anything complicated.”
Flight wrapped his arm around Raito’s neck. “There are many different types of love my dude. Our love for each other is platonic. Just like my love for you. Love doesn’t have to be romantic.”
“I never really thought about it like that.”
“Just take it slow if you really want to be with her.”
“I will. I think just starting out as friends is a good start for both of us. Here is my car.” Before getting in, Raito glanced over the area to see that they were all alone. “Huh, we are like the only people here.” Those were his final words before passing out.
The concept of how much time had passed was unknown. His eyes opened and found himself laying on the floor. His vision was incredibly blurry as he tried to focus in on a strange red dot near his face. His eyes widen as the images began clearing up. It was blood. He then saw another dot and another and another. He followed the trail with his eyes which led him to a body. It had the same shirt and pants that Flight was wearing. He didn’t want to but knew he had to see more. He moved his eyes higher to see a foot on Flight’s stomach. He followed the foot up to see that the person was wearing black jeans with a metal chain wrapped around the left leg. He continued looking up to see the person was wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt with a black start graphic design in the middle.
“I see you’re awake now,” a voice said.
“I heard this voice before.” Raito thought to himself.
Raito picked up his head to see this mysterious person’s face. That’s when he saw a mask. A grey mask with turquoise stripes and cat eyes. It looked like it was supposed to be a chesire cat mask but the bottom half of it was missing. Instead it was the person’s actual smile. His mouth was covered in blood, so much blood that it was even dripping off of him. The man raised his right arm and tried to wipe away some of the blood. It did little help as even his hand was drenched in blood. He then spoke again.
“My name is Leech. I’m Flight best friend. I’m sure you’ve heard of me….AHA…AHAH…AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Advertisement
- In Serial78 Chapters
Ryuu Kusari no Ori
Solminati Academy is a gathering place for youngsters with dreams, hopes, ambitions, and various thoughts. There was a boy here who entered the school to support his beloved’s dream. However, the boy’s ability, which he had only thought of, did not improve, he was laughed at by the people around him, he had no friends, his lover was separated from him, and his steps stopped. However, he meets an old woman, and that encounter triggers a gradual change in the boy. This is the story of a boy who has stopped moving.
8 638 - In Serial12 Chapters
The City of the Dragon Twisted
. 🐉 . The City of The Forever-Peace witnesses a pale young Buddhist Monk fighting his fearful thoughts of whether to cross the borders to Nepal and India against the death penalty. Why would that matter? In that September Autumn night of circa A.D.655, Emperor Táme’ Tie’-Zeon has been ruling an empire spanning 13,000 miles from the East to as far as the Baikal Sea in the Western Regions bordering the Middle East kingdom and the Rome Empire. Meanwhile, news has traveled that his Dharma-Son, Pan G. Monk faces an incredible Guillotine Execution that will chop off his waist in halves. The Empress Wǔl Zénder-Tan’ couldn't be careless. Why would that matter to the imperial family? Monks are just officials with equal vicarious duties and privileges. She would then spare her resourceful energy to maintain the fruitful relationship intertwining The Grand-Khan Jurchen-Warlords Clans in the North-East Desert in attempts to affirm her fate as the first and only female-Emperor, in the Medieval Ages of the Great City of the Dragon. Whereas The Abbot Master Xend'-Zeon of the Jade-Lotus Temple faces factions of religious politics. Particularly in the present, the Empress needed to manipulate the Master’s reputation to desperately seek life and/or the after-life merits. She decreed to be addressed as The Old Buddha Grand Father. The Master has had ideals of service to sentient beings since he was young. He could have traveled the Silk Road to the Far West entrance-point bypassing the five beacons as shortcuts save that he lacks the pertinent travel documents. Instead, he chose to cross the 800-mile овь-Gobi Desert that is as vast as the Baikal Sea, on foot. A route that is impossible in the history of the Buddha dharma. His heart never withers to support the mage of the red lotus that promises the Enlightenment of the Buddha-Land. Except that no one has ever endured the latitude of the heat. The pain. Alive, out of the desert sea. But he is also vulnerable to recognize the un-staticity of The Truth, The Truth itself, and the truth of seeking passion and mission for compassion in humankind. The mind and body reciting The Sūtra and The Heart, A phenomenon they knew better as if souls in chemical layers of their physique. Realizing enhanced mind training attaining controlling powers of life and death. Realizing the transformation of the unbearable pains and grievances he thought possible. . 2 . 🐉 . Meanwhile, dreams have been watching him to open The Third Eye, at The City's Amethyst-Jade Palace of the Second Emperor, Third Emperor, and Fourth Empress. Old Monks at The Nālandā Temple at the Far West Buddha Land; Householders Masters and Kings of the Jeek’-Foot Mountains of The City of the Naga-Dragon Twisted; in the Far West of The City of the Ever-Peace witness adventures of The Master. Lives at brinks of suicidal choices slaughtering ordeals. Who have inadvertently neglected the Master's karmic inflictions that would paradoxically affirm in a point of Near-Death Experiences; The Two-Profound-Reflective presented upon attaining The Deep-Active-Meditatitive Flow of Equanimity Samādhi. Eventually, The Seer Consciousness sees the Active Heart that is replete with The Latent Unconditional Love, Compassion And Empathy; that had been so close to us that we could not see it; as if one cannot see her own face. . 3 . 🐉 . Meanwhile also, the Imperial Criminal Affairs Clerk Ewen Hawk-Jean suffers too much seeking possession of desires and relief from a certain situation. Pan G., the Assistant Dharma-Translator to the Abbott Master Xend'-zeon has voluntarily or otherwise fallen into the supposed conspiracy or plain indifference. The imperial family's agenda of the Imperial Family of The Fang’-Chucks of course longs for a waist cut in halves not simply as souvenirs. Awaiting the Abbot Master is to come out from the disturbance. Incredibly transformative factors of the Mind-Transcendence-Samadhi are profoundly desired to spare the Monk Pan G. from the Post-Autumn Guillotine Execution that will chop off his waist in halves...... …But why would it matter to You?
8 75 - In Serial9 Chapters
RTS Roguelike Robot Rampage
A three-stories tall mechanical walker gets orbital-dropped into a grassy field. Its fleshy human pilot who's memories have been stripped is ordered to destroy a strategic installation in the mountains several hundred kilometers away. This facility is part of a globe-spanning, invading AI which has subverted the planet's population into working with and defending it. The pilot has 31 hours to gather allies, build up forces, and break through increasingly fortified defensive lines to reach their objective, before the main army of the AI arrives and destroys them. Warning: Contains gore and other graphic scenes. Cover art inspired by the War of the Worlds illustrated novel. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 191 - In Serial33 Chapters
Natalie
Born as the youngest into a family of above average intelligence, everything about her mediocre. A puzzle to her parents, her three older siblings all brilliant with high gradings, and then there is Natalie, still loved, but an embarrassment. Natalie aware of her parents and siblings feelings, brushes everything aside in her excitement at finely being old enough to join the virtual reality worlds. Where she hopes to fine something that will set her apart from the average label she now wears. this is my first time writing I hope you enjoy the story and please let me know in the comments your reviews.
8 204 - In Serial13 Chapters
Fayre
Melissa Crawford thinks she's just a regular teenage girl. She goes to school. She has friends, boy problems, homework...you know, the typical teenage angst. But she couldn't be more wrong, for Melissa Crawford is not a mortal.Her adoptive mortal mother refused to give her up and hired a witch to erase the enchanting Faery child's memory, not realizing that things aren't that simple.You see, when she was a little girl, Melissa promised herself forever to her Leannan Sidhe (mate), a Fae Prince, and a promise to Fae is sacred. When the Fae Prince comes back to claim what's his, nothing will get in his way."Mortals are so arrogant. So utterly narcissistic to think that they are the only intelligence in this world, to believe their realm is the only realm, their way is the only way. "Many of you believe us fairies only exist in little kids' fairy tales. We are so much more than that. We exist, living in the Realm just a blink away from yours. A few wrong turns in the park or the forest and you're there. We sometimes walk among you, and you're not even aware of it. Believe me, we exist. Across the globe, your kind calls us and our realm by different names...but as William Shakespeare once said- a rose by any other name..."
8 110 - In Serial30 Chapters
Tulang Dedikado
Tulang aking isinulat upang magbigay inspirasyon sa lahat ng katulad kong tahimik na manunulat.Patuloy susulat sa pamamagitan ng papel at pluma upang ipahiwatig ang aking karanasan at dedikado sa lahat ng mambabasa. Tulang pampamilya, tula sa minamahal, tula sa mga nasaktan o iniwan at tulang pangkalahatan.
8 123